The Youth Freestyle Series is back and, building on the massive increase in entrants in the 2007 series, we have booked exclusive use at the majority of the venues to ensure maximum coaching and competition time enabling more paddlers to enter.

The Youth Freestyle Series consists of 5 paddling events across the UK. Each event includes expert coaching in the morning followed by a competition in the afternoon. Where venues allow there will also be a boater X or team challenge event where paddlers will race head to head down the river.

The series is aimed at all under-18 progressing white-water paddlers who want to participate in freestyle competition or gain more experience and skills in white-water/freestyle paddling. There are 3 age categories for the competition: 18 and under, 15 and under & 12 and under. There is no minimum age but some previous white-water experience and a reasonably reliable white-water roll is necessary. No previous competition or freestyle experience is required.

This year’s events will be held at:

 Llangollen Sunday 13th April 2008
 Boulters Saturday 10th May 2008
 Teeside Saturday 7th June 2008
 Nene Sunday 6th July 2008
 Nottingham Sunday 7th September 2008

As each event is run separately it doesn’t matter if you enter 1, 2 or all 5 events. But, early pre-entry for each event is essential (unfortunately we had to turn people away at 2 of the events last year). Visit www.youth.ukfreestyle.com to enter.

Cost: £9 per event or £35 for all 5 events. Closing date for entering all 5 events at the discounted rate will be Friday 4th April 2008.

A big thank you goes to all the sponsors of the 2008 series: Pyranha, Dagger Europe/Palm Equipment, Squarerock/Jackson Kayaks, Kayakojacko and Desperate Measures.

Fiona Jarvie
20-02-2008